Lawmakers ask pay to be withheld as government shutdown continues Monday

WASHINGTON - Members of Congress are asking their pay to be withheld as other federal employees will be without pay as part of the government shutdown.

As part of the shutdown, critical government functions are continuing, however uniformed service members, health inspectors and law enforcement officers set to work without pay.

Congress is considered an essential function and is continuing with pay. Some members of Congress, in solidarity with unpaid federal workers, especially the armed forces, are asking to have their pay withheld.

Congressman Ron DeSantis (R) from Florida posted on Facebook on Sunday.

"Members of Congress should be treated like everyone else. It is wrong that Congress gets paid during a lapse in appropriations yet members of our military do not. I'm having my pay withheld and will donate any backpay to charity."

Rep. Mark Walker from North Carolina, expressed a similar sentiment on Twitter, "As long as 100,000 active duty service men and women based in NC are defending our freedom with no pay, the very least I can do is lead by example with my letter to the CAO of Congress refusing my salary as well. #SchumerShutdown"

Congresswoman Ann Wagner (R), from Missouri, who also made the same request during the shutdown in 2013, is asking her pay to be withheld again.

Rep. Mia Love (R) from Utah posted her letter of request to have her pay withheld on Twitter, stating "If members of the military aren't getting paid during the government shutdown, then I'm not accepting a salary either."

Democrats also joined in the sentiment, as Rep. Sean Maloney (D) from New York also said he is requesting pay to be withheld.

Maryland Congressman John Delaney (D) said he will be donating his pay from the shutdown "to the Mercy Health Clinic in Maryland, a non-profit community health clinic that serves low-income people."

Virginia Senator Mark Warner (D) said that he will also be donating his pay to charity.

Rep. Rob Wittman of Virginia (R) said live on FOX 5 Monday that he would be donating his paycheck during the shutdown to a veteran charity.

Rep. Barbara Comstock (R) also said she would be withholding from receiving pay.